The Wind Turbine

WindShare's Ex Place turbine has had an enormous impact on Canada’s wind industry. Its construction and widespread community support made it the perfect tool for the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association to successfully promote major policy changes in Ontario. These changes now make it easier for co-operatives and community groups to develop renewable energy projects.

More information about policy.

The Ex Place turbine…

Is the first URBAN-sited turbine to be constructed in North America. Turbines are not often put into cities because buildings, zoning issues and dense residential areas tend to interrupt a “laminar” flow of wind required for wind speeds to generate power.
Is the first COMMUNITY-OWNED wind power project in Ontario. Community power is locally owned, renewable energy generation scaled to the size and characteristics of the host site. The community power model is gaining support as an alternative to large-scale developments which are experiencing some local opposition due to their size and local visual impact. By becoming power producers, co-operative members can benefit directly from a wind energy resource and move towards more sustainable and secure energy future.
Is made in Ontario. Almost all of the turbine parts, including the tower and blades, were manufactured in province. Only the converter at the base of the turbine and the nacelle were manufactured in the Netherlands.

The ExPlace turbine generates an average of 1,000 megawatt hours of power per year, equivalent to the electricity needs of over 200 homes.

The turbine production capacity helps displace up to 380 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, which is the equivalent of taking 1,300 cars off the road or planting 30,000 trees each year.

The Ex Place turbine was constructed in December 2002. The turbine stands 30 stories tall at the foot of the Dufferin Gate entrance of Exhibition Place, visible to hundreds of thousands of commuters driving into Toronto’s downtown via Lakeshore Boulevard and the Gardiner Expressway every day.

More power production data is available in our Members section.

Tours of the Ex Place Turbine will be available this summer! Click here to learn more.

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WindShare's newest project:
5 wind turbines near Lake Huron. Currently in the final stages of approval.